Ssangbangeul Raiders, a professional baseball team in Korea. The Raiders








are on the verge of liquidation due to its financial difficulties at its mother








firm, Ssangbangeul Group, has been experiencing a liquidation crunch since








1997. Although one of the nation's top-4 chaebols, SK has never owned a








professional baseball team like the other chaebols.









One high ranking official at the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, which








oversees the professional baseball league, said Thursday SK Group's








Chairman Son Kil-sung told Minister Park Jie-won that his group is








interested in purchasing the Raiders. But other executives at SK showed








some reservations saying that the takeover plan has yet to begin.









There are 8 teams in the Korea's professional baseball league and 2 different








leagues.









Observers say the asking price for the Raiders will be in the neighborhood of








W21 billion.









(Koh Suk-tae, kost@chosun.com)